Hey :D

Hey all! First up I guess I should say welcome to my blog, notes from a barista, I'm Ryan and I live in the UK. I've been into coffee for most of my life and now it's a hobby turned job for me which is awesome.

With that out of the way, let me tell you a little about why I'm writing this blog and what I hope to achieve, just follow the jump. ;)

My infatuation with coffee started aged two, when I stole all of the coffee cremes from Mum and Dad's tin of Cadbury's Roses during the Christmas holidays. This now infamous act set me on a path for great things, most notably the gift of coffee cremes from all of my family's chocolate boxes hence forth, but also the taste for something that would grow to be my absolute passion.

From the day of my first pay slip I've been investing in coffee; I say investing because drinking it brings me happiness, and anything that makes you happy is worth investing in. That's part of what this blog is about, reviewing cafes and restaurants so I can help guide your investments of time and money with the best drink possible as an outcome, your ROI if you will.

On a secondary level, notes from a barista is also about how to make great coffee at home. Coffee shops can become an expensive habit, back in 2006 Starbucks was a £40 a week one that I had to break, and since then I've bought countless brewers, drippers, grinders and gadgets to make myself a cup of the good stuff whenever I like.

That last bit is probably the most important though, drinking coffee is a subjective experience, so I can guide you as to what I find to be best, but you should find what you like too. After all that's a massive part of the fun!

There really is so much more I could say, but I guess we'll save it for another day. Until then, take care.

Luke